2007-05-15 12:32:00 PDT OAKLAND -- A man already on Death Row should be executed for raping and killing an 18-year-old San Leandro woman in 1984, a jury decided today.

Robert Rhoades, now 54, formerly of San Lorenzo showed no visible reaction when the verdict was read in the Oakland courtroom of Alameda County Superior Court Joseph Hurley. He smiled as he bid farewell to his attorneys and left court escorted by sheriff's deputies.

Hurley is scheduled to sentence Rhoades on June 19 after reviewing the jury's sentence, which came after less than two hours of deliberations. As jurors filed out of the courtroom, one woman on the panel mouthed to Connell's family, "I'm so sorry for your loss."

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Jurors declined comment today as they left the courthouse. The same panel deliberated for less than an hour April 10 before convicting Rhoades of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of rape in the killing of Julie Connell.

"It's a happy day for us," Connell's mother, Kathy Connell, said outside court.

James Connell, the victim's father, said, "It's been a long road, and we're very glad it's over. I think it's affected a lot of peoples' lives, and maybe the outcome will affect everyone in a positive manner." He added, however, "There is no such thing as closure."

Patricia Connell said she had pledged to her slain sister to follow the legal course "all the way through."

During her closing argument Monday in the penalty phase of the trial, Senior Deputy District Attorney Angela Backers said Rhoades shouldn't be allowed to hope or dream, see guests while behind bars, feel the sun while exercising in prison or "enjoy his sadistic memories" of when he sexually assaulted and fatally stabbed Connell in 1984 and 8-year-old Michael Lyons in 1996 in Sutter County.

A different jury sentenced Rhoades to death for killing Michael.

Michael's mother, Sandra Fuller, was in court today with her husband, also named Michael. "With all the loss and all the animosity and the pain we went through, I'm glad something positive came out of it, that Julie finally did get her justice."

"I'm delighted with the jury's verdict," Backers said today. "I think it was the only just punishment in this case. I'm very pleased for Julie and Michael's families, that they can finally rest now."

Defense attorney Albert Wax had urged jurors to sentence his client to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"My client is disappointed by the verdict," he said today. "He's not surprised by it. He looks forward to a successful appeal."